Posted on
1/10/2008 5:52:13 PM
Bet On NBA - NBA Double-Header Selections
By Robby Maddux
Thursday evening means one thing to the NBA betting community, two great nationally televised games. First, tipping off at 8:05pm EST, the Detroit Pistons (+3½) head to the Lone Star State to take on the San Antonio Spurs (-3½). Following that stellar contest, the Phoenix Suns (+6) invade Utah to play the Jazz (-6) beginning at 10:35pm EST.
This will be the first meeting this season between the Piston and Spurs. Last week, Detroit was riding a season-high eleven-game SU (straight up) win streak before losing at home to Boston on Saturday and Dallas on the road last night by the score of 102-86. It was just the fourth time this season the Pistons allowed 100 points or more.
- Pistons are 4-1 ATS (against the spread) in their last 5 games following a SU loss.
- Pistons are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 0 days rest.
- Pistons are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
- Pistons are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 Thursday games.
- Pistons are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 road games.
- Pistons are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
Two avoid their first three-game skid this season, Detroit will have to beat the defending NBA champions on the road. San Antonio is just 6-7 in its last 13 games, but they are 17-2 at the AT&T Center which is the league's best home mark.
San Antonio gave up 18 points in overtime on Monday, falling on the road to Golden State 130-121 while failing to cover the spread. Tim Duncan had 32 points and 13 rebounds and Tony Parker added 31 points.
- Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Spurs are 43-19-2 ATS in their last 64 games playing on 2 days rest.
Duncan has dominated the Pistons at home throughout his career. He's recorded double-doubles in all 10 regular-season games, averaging 20.3 points and 13.2 rebounds in leading San Antonio to a 9-1 record.
Parker, who finished one point short of his season high on Wednesday, is averaging 15.1 points in 12 career games against the Pistons.
San Antonio's opponents average just 92.5 points this season, third-lowest in the NBA behind Detroit and Boston. As a result, the Pistons and Spurs typically don't allow many points when they meet. They've split the last four meetings while averaging 164 points combined.
- Spurs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Spurs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central.
- Spurs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Spurs are 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 home games.
NBA odds list San Antonio the 3½-point favorites with a game total of 180½.
- Spurs are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
- Spurs are 18-8-1 ATS in their last 27 games as a home favorite.
- Pistons are 17-8-1 ATS in their last 26 games as a road underdog.
Analysis: Detroit is coming off back-to-back games with two of the NBA's best teams, and they undoubtedly exerted an enormous amount of energy in those games. Now, they meet another superior club and it's likely they won't have much left in the tank.
NBA Free Picks: San Antonio Spurs -3½
Tonight's second game will also be a good one. Not often do the Suns get tagged the underdog, especially considering they collected their sixth win in seven games by beating Indiana 129-122 in overtime on Wednesday at home in the money-dropping outing.
- Suns are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a SU win.
- Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Oddsmakers may be giving Utah respect with thoughts in mind two-time league MVP Steve Nash may not be able to go this evening. After Wednesday's win, Nash didn't travel with the team to Utah, but may rejoin the team before the game. The Suns, who own a 1 1/2-game lead in the Pacific Division, went 2-4 in games Nash missed last season.
If Nash doesn't play or is limited in minutes, Amare Stoudemire will have to step up in a big way. Stoudemire, who is averaging a team-high 22.1 points, had 18 and nine rebounds against Utah earlier this season.
- Suns are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 vs. Western Conference.
- Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
- Suns are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
The Jazz are coming off a spread covering 111-89 win over Indiana on Tuesday at home. Utah has won three straight at Energy Solutions Arena to improve to 13-3 there this season.
- Jazz are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU win.
- Jazz are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Jazz are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 13 rebounds in the loss to the Suns earlier this season, and is averaging 21.6 points and 12.2 rebounds in his last five games against them.
- Jazz are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Jazz are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games.
- Jazz are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 home games.
- Jazz are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games overall.
NBA odds list Utah the 6-point favorites with a game total of 220½.
- Jazz are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5.
- Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Analysis: Nash is listed as doubtful for tonight's game and Shawn Marion is probable. That's a ton of fire-power missing for Phoenix and it's hard to imagine without Nash the Suns will be able to come close to scoring their NBA-leading 110.7 points per game, and that could make for a much lower scoring game then the experts are predicting.
NBA Free Picks: UNDER 220½
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